verb

abandon

uh-BAN-duhn

verb

To leave someone or something behind for good, especially when you have a duty to stay.

"The crew was ordered to abandon ship as it began to sink."

"He refused to abandon his injured friend on the trail."

To give up an activity, plan, or belief completely.

"They abandoned the project after running out of funding."

noun

Total freedom from restraint or inhibition, especially in the phrase "with abandon".

"The dancers moved with wild abandon."

How to Use Abandon

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo leave behind or give up on something or someone completely.

Common pairings

abandon ship abandon hope with reckless abandon abandon a plan

Word Forms

abandoned past tense, abandon plural, abandoned plural, abandons plural, abandons singular, abandon singular, abandoned singular, abandonest singular, abandonedst singular, abandoneth singular

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The crew was ordered to _____ ship as it began to sink.

Etymology

From Old French abandoner, built from a ("to") and bandon ("control, jurisdiction"), so originally "to hand over to someone else's control" — which shifted to mean giving something up entirely.

Synonyms

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abdicate abjure blin cast aside cease cede deliver up depart from desist from desert discontinue dispense with

Antonyms

acquire adopt arrogate advocate cherish claim defend embrace

Related Words

abandoned abdicate abstain love achieve argument lose advocate

Rhymes for abandon

Landon Brandon

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